It's newly promoted Swansea City's first Premiership home game on 20 August, so, with the city about to see an influx of new away fans, and the wider Gower peninsula currently mobbed-out with tourists, it seems like an opportune moment to run the budget eats rule over Swansea Bay.
For those of you that haven't been following the budget series, this is our ongoing attempt to winkle out the best places to eat for under £10 a head, in various locations across Britain. You can review our Swansea 10, here, and then have your say - and share your tips - below.
In Swansea and Mumbles' case, I saw fit to include the likes of the Bangkok Cafe, One Shoe, the Kitchen Table, Punjabi Tiffin on Swansea Market and Govinda's.
You may have other ideas. Where, you might ask, is La Parrilla, Cafe TwoCann, Kardomah, Anarkali or Wasabi? What's with the absence of the Americano Jazz Caffe, Thai Elephant and No.13? What kind of idiot, moreover, would choose Verdi's ice-cream over Joe's? That'll be me.
One borderline place, number 10.5 on the list, if you like, is Park Fish Bar. A fish 'n' chip shop since the back end of the first world war, its wonderful vintage interior dates to 1960s, while the menu - whatever happened to faggots, peas and gravy? - likewise tips its hat to tradition. Prices are keen (they haven't changed in three years), the owner is enthusiastic, and Park enjoys a fierce local following. Trouble is, my meal was only 50% good. "Best chips in town," the bloke behind me in the queue advised, and I can certainly believe it. The chips were top-notch. The batter on the cod, however, was too thick (or the frying oil not hot enough) and it was still gooey inside. Was this an uncharacteristic error on Park's part? Or are there better Swansea chippies? I wanted to love it, but couldn't quite.
Incidentally, feel free - bearing in mind that £10 cut-off - to suggest any other gems from across the wider Gower. From Three Cliffs to the Britannia Inn, where do canny locals, visiting walkers and returning holidaymakers go for good, affordable scran?
